the next big adventure

When you're called...

2011-01-28T22:28:00.000-08:00

There are times in your life where you have to take a chance. Choose a different direction. Take a leap of faith. It can be scary, but it is so worth it.

I've not always been open to these opportunities, but that changed about 7 years ago.

It was then that we found a church home at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. It was then that I answered the call to be baptized and truly become part of a community.

This isn't a story of religion or beliefs, however. It's one of encouragement. Be open to the opportunities that life has to offer when you take that leap - when you answer that call.

I felt the need to serve others at Trinity and searched for my calling.

The first was to assist my bride, Cathy, with her Loving Casseroles ministry. It was a group dedicated to providing meals for those recovering from sickness or injury, grieving a loss, or celebrating an addition to the family.

The second was to assist her with another group - Sacred Dancers. I would help setup the music, take photos, and support rehearsals.

While these were both enjoyable and rewarding, they were Cathy's calling, not mine.

My first real calling came unexpectedly. After worship one fall day, John Carey approached me while I was loading up on cookies. We exchanged greetings and he asked me if I would be willing to volunteer for something.

He didn't say what, and I choose not to ask, but to simply take that leap and say yes. John smiled and made his way off.

I know what you're thinking. Who the heck volunteers for something without knowing what it is? I tell you though, he's the pastor's husband, so I figured that it was something like setting up tables, raking leaves, or framing a Habitat for Humanity house. In any case, something told me to just say yes.

A minute later, he was at my side again and had a bit of a sheepish look on his face.

"My wife told me that I have to tell you what you're signing up for."

Uh oh. This sounded a lot more involved than parking cars on game day, or cooking breakfast at Alpha House.

He went on to tell me that they were looking for a catechism coordinator for the 7th grade boys and it was hopefully a 2 year commitment to mentor them through confirmation. They thought I might be a good fit as I seemed to get on well with the younger members of the congregation.

He looked at me somewhat nervously, but I simply smiled and affirmed that I would do it.

And am I ever glad I did. It has been one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences of my life.

I had an incredible group of young men, and I surprised myself by how quickly we bonded. Dom, Peter, Ryan, Brett, Andrew, and later on, Jack, became part of my life in a way that I never knew I always wanted. I loved being their mentor and a guide in their development of faith.

Through the course of those two years, I learned a lot about myself and became a better person because of this, and I also grew in my confidence to interact and lead boys of this age.

Had I not accepted the request, I would have missed a journey that gave just as much, if not more, than I put in. I would not have had such a rich experience filled with fun, competition, and faith.

Shortly after confirmation I felt another calling; one that required us to uproot from our home and community of a dozen years. I felt that we needed to move to California to advance our adoption which felt stalled.

This was a true test for us as we had built good lives in Michigan. We had (still have, actually) great friends, a fantastic church, a good job, Cathy was attending Eastern Michigan University, and we were actively serving in our community. We picked up and moved to San Jose, a huge shift from our cozy little town of Saline - population 8 thousand and change.

But it turned out that answering that call was also the right thing to do. On December 25th, 2010, we brought home our son, Nathaniel James. We now have signed up for a calling that will make everything else we've done to date pale in comparison. But we are steadfast in our path forward and look forward to all that this journey will bring.

So, please when you're called, answer. You will be amazed at where it takes you.

Blessings,

James

it's a boy!

2010-11-09T09:33:00.001-08:00

As you may, or may not have noticed, it's been quite some time since I last blogged. This was partially due to being really, really, busy, and partially because we were waiting to announce that we've been selected for an adoption placement!

It's been 3 years since we started down this path, and I give all credit to Cathy who kept us on track to finish our application, home study, and all the various appointments and classes. She also created our family photo album - this is the book of photos that birth parents can look through to learn more about an adoptive family, our adoption video, and literally hundreds of other details. She's amazing!

Here's what we know about the baby...

It's a boy, and he's due on December 23rd, 2010. He's apparently quite active and likes to kick. :) Both birth parents are Caucasian and the father has dark curly hair.

We've decided to name him Nathaniel (meaning 'Gift from God') James, and we cannot wait to meet him!

We even have our first picture of the little dude.

Seeing our baby has finally made it sink in that this is real. Before, adoption has felt more like a concept than a reality. Something that might happen, but has not yet come to be.

Now we find ourselves preparing our hearts and home to receive this little person. We wonder what his personality will be, what's he going to look like, and how much our lives are about to change.

We're so ready for it, and I couldn't think of a better way to end our first year in California than this. Thank you, friends, for walking along with us on this journey. Your guidance, support, and prayers have helped us navigate the way.

Pre-parenthood preparation... Let the adventure continue!

welcome back

2010-03-02T21:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a fair few months since our last post and in that time we have moved to California, settled in, and are getting back into familiar patterns.

It's so nice to be closer to family, have winter days in the 70's, and have a plethora of great Mexican restaurants to choose from!

It's also hard to realize that everyday the life we spent a decade building in Michigan is slipping away.

But we're here for a reason. We have a purpose and a calling to fulfill. We're here to grow as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. We're here to be a positive example to our nieces and nephews, a support system for our brothers and sisters, and a comfort to our parents.

We miss Michigan, but this is our home now. We must forge ahead while staying rooted in the lessons we learned and the friendships that shaped us.

Come visit us! You'll always be welcome.

leap of faith

2009-11-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

By the turn of the year, Cathy and I will be settled into our new location in California and have started to surround ourselves within a new community.

It's scary, but it's also amazingly empowering. We're taking the proactive road, the one where we are giving up what is familiar and comfortable, in order to shape our future. It's our leap of faith. We're trusting in ourselves to go chase our dreams and not wait for them to come to us.

It's not without great regret that we are moving away as we have made a really good life for ourselves here.

Our church, Trinity Lutheran in Ann Arbor, is top notch. We've been so very blessed to have found a spiritual home there and had created wonderful memories. Cathy founded a sacred dance group and also directed the Loving Casseroles hospitality group, and I brought Financial Peace University to trinity and spent a couple of years as the catechism guide for an absolutely amazing group of guys. I was baptized there, and through Trinity, I learned how to grow in faith and to serve others.

Our town, Saline, is nationally ranked as one of the best places to live. It is small town living at it's best and we've made it a weekly tradition to get apple fritters and pastries at Benny's Bakery, lemon ginger tea and sandwiches at My Favorite Cafe, and fresh and delicious Japanese cuisine at Biwako. We'll miss the quaint downtown with it's summer concerts, trees sparkling with lights lining the street, parades, friendly faces, and relaxed pace. There's good swirl here, and we've loved every moment of it.

Our home. Cathy and I have spent the past 6 years transforming a cute townhouse into a beautiful and cozy home. From the cheerful paint colors, to the gardening, to the cottage style furnishings, we've never felt so settled as we have here. We have wonderful neighbors, and an amazing view. Every evening we're treated to gorgeous sunsets over rolling hills crowned with a stand of trees.

Our friends. We've been truly blessed to have found such wonderful friends! Some we have only recently met and some we have known since we first moved here 11 years ago. My volleyball team, I've played with for seven years or so. We're not the most talented bunch on the court but we know how to play well with each other and have won our fair share of championships. Each of our friends has been a blessing in our lives and we'll feel the loss of their company keenly.

Even these words barely describe the rich fabric of people, places, and things that we have experienced and fell in love with out here. The word 'Michigan' means more than the name of a state or a university. It will forever be a sense of 'home'.

Thank you, Michigan! We'll never forget you, and we will return someday.

why God created spiders

2009-10-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Let's face it. Spiders are creepy. They have multiple beady eyes, skittery legs, and alien-looking mandibles.

If they didn't do such a great job reducing the mosquito and fly population they'd have very little redeeming value.

But why do they have to be so repugnant? I'll tell you why.

One time Cathy and I were driving home after a vacation. It was late and I needed a bathroom break. We pulled into a rest stop where a number of motorcycles were parked to the side.

I rounded the partition to the men's room and started to reach for the door when I stopped cold. There on the door knob was a spider whose legs spanned a good couple of inches.

That moment of pause, however saved me though, because when I stopped, I saw a black boot appear on the other side of the partition and also stop. My hesitation to enter, likely made the biker feel as though I was aware of him. I turned back and he retreated.

Upon reentering my car, and locking the doors, Cathy told me what she saw.

As I walked toward the lighted restrooms, a man stood up and crept toward me. She sensed the ill intent from him. She was willing me to stop and when I did, he turned and quickly went back into the shadows.

I'm convinced that I would have been mugged at least.

This might not answer why God created spiders, but I'm glad that He uses their characteristics to keep his children safe.

Our first adoption

2009-09-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Fall 2009 means we celebrate the 4th anniversary of our 'first adoption' - Sydney the Border Collie / Husky puppy!

To celebrate, we created a little photo album to share. (Hopefully soon we'll be chasing a baby (or two) and not have time to make these!)

Enjoy!

Gaining Momentum

2009-09-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Something I have discovered about myself this year is that I really enjoy gardening. It was never something I had patience for before but this summer I took an active role in growing peppers and tomatoes, and also to prune overextended houseplants and then transplant the cuttings into new pots. It's been quite relaxing and I enjoy the feeling that I have somewhat of a green thumb.

I believe this also reflects my transformation and readiness to become a parent. I look forward to every little adventure - exploring old places with new eyes and new places together as a family.

Another important calling to me is through Financial Peace University. I brought the program to my church in the Spring and have really felt blessed to walk with each family on their journey out of debt and into wealth. It's been a new experience in serving others and one that has been amazingly rewarding.

I've also started running again this year. I've only been averaging about 15 miles a week, but I feel energized and balanced through this regimen and my goal is to get back to a sub-7 minute mile. I've got a long way to go though, but I'll put in the time to make this goal a reality. Meantime, it's also helped me lose a few pounds and also perk up my metabolism!

With Summer coming to an end, it's time for me to dust off the backpack and finish that MBA. I've let it sit on the back-burner far too long, and while I've gained a tremendous amount of experience and expertise in my industry, I want every opportunity to reach the next level in my career.

Cathy is working to finish a program in Occupational Therapy and I'm very proud of her diligence and resourcefulness in making this happen. Because of her efforts, she should be able to complete this without paying a dime through grant money she's been able to find and qualify for.

Most importantly though, is my amazing relationship with Cathy. This year we celebrate our 15th anniversary. My how it's gone by in a blink! We have gone through a lot with our journey to start a family and I am so blessed that we share this path together. She is going to be the best mom and I can't wait to see her in action.

2009 has been a great year so far. We are taking the steps to prepare ourselves physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially for our future, and are looking forward to the next big adventure - parenting!

Bring it on!

Serving others

2009-08-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Cathy and I cooked and served breakfast at Alpha House, a local shelter and support facility. There were a few families staying there at the time and lots of children.

It's always a joy for us to serve others who are facing challenging situations such as this and we always leave feeling peaceful.

The children this time were quite boisterous as there was a family that had 5 kids, 4 boys and 1 girls ages 18months up through 7 years. Talk about a whirlwind of activity, chatter, and energy!

They were very curious about us and asked all sorts of questions. Did we have any kids? Did we have a dog? Do chipmunks live in our yard too? Why are the waffles shaped like hearts? What type of games do we like to play?

It reinforced how ready we are to have our own children and to teach them our experiences, beliefs, and values.

We look forward to that day with great anticipation.

Blue Angels

2009-07-19T10:08:00.001-07:00

Since Cathy and I both grew up near a naval base, we became accustomed to summer airshows featuring the Blue Angels. There's something both patriotic and protective in the sound of F-18s in flight for us.

Plus, the Blue Angels are among the elite pilots in the world who make the most difficult precision flying maneuvers look effortless.

It was wonderful to watch them and we cannot wait to share this experience with our future children!

Go Blue (Angels)!

Gone Campin'

2009-06-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about living in Michigan is the camping. Lots of shady places and lakes, and you can just relax and enjoy the campfire and amazingly starry skies.

We recently camped out at one of our favorite spots and really had a great time. Our good friends let us borrow some camping equipment (much better and smarter than buying it!) and we set up a mesh canopy around the picnic table and a 2-room tent for sleeping.

Stocked up with firewood, food, books, and Sydney the dog, we were ready for a weekend getaway.

We hope that you are enjoying your summer as much as we are!

Peace,

James & Cathy

Our Adoption Video - Better Together

2009-05-03T20:17:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

Cathy put together the cutest video photo album and we're going to post it to YouTube as another way of showing prospective birth parents more about us.

Here it is. We hope that you enjoy!

Love,

James & Cathy

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

On this day of resurrection and renewal, we look forward to the end of a long cold winter and the beginning of a bright new season.

May you always walk with His grace and blessings.

James & Cathy

Photo books are done!

2009-02-20T06:47:00.000-08:00

Cathy finished our family photo books and they look great!

These books are little photo albums to help birth mothers to get a better idea about prospective adoptive families. Cathy spent about a year putting them together on Shutterfly and they look phenomenal!

I'll add some photos of it soon, but it was great to get this final step out of the way. Now it's all up to God to gather us together as a family...

Here comes the sun

2009-02-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

It's been one cold winter this year and I'm really glad to see a day above 30 degrees. Of course I had to be sick and pretty much missed it.

Watching the Super Bowl now and pretty much have to say the hardest hit so far has been Bruce Springsteen sliding into the cameraman during the halftime show. It's nice to see that Silvio Dante got a release from the big house to play some guitar as well.

As far as the adoption goes, we've not heard anything yet, but have been given the honor of writing a referral for our friends Brian and Stephanie who are looking to adopt a second child, this time from South Korea.

It's been a long wait for us but we know that God has a very special baby waiting for us, and we're going to do everything possible to be prepared to welcome him (or her) into our lives.

For now, we'll cherish our time together before the next big adventure.

Stay tuned!

Here's looking to a great 2009

2009-01-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it's New Years Day and 2008 has finally come to an end. I have a strong feeling that 2009 is going to be amazing!

May the new year bring you every joy!

December tidings

2008-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Hello from Michigan!

No news yet, but we're getting our ducks in a row at home. Cathy and I cleaned and organized our basement into a very nice multi-use space that consolidates our home office, exercise area, and family room. This frees up our second bedroom for the future nursery!

We have also created a space and system to better sell off things to help make room and have extra cash when the baby finally arrives.

I wish that we could have traveled to spend Christmas with my family this year but other factors interfered with those plans. We haven't yet gotten to see our new little niece, Jori, but hopefully, we can make it out to Alaska and Oregon soon.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Godparents chosen

2008-11-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving and what we are most thankful for this year is... Godparents for our future baby!

We've chosen our niece, Kimberly, as the godmother, and our nephew, Shane, as the godfather. They are brother and sister and are both active in the Church and very positive, responsible young adults. We were delighted that they accepted this calling and we know that they will be wonderful role models in our child's life.

And if that wasn't blessing enough, we are spending time with much of Cathy's family as well as my mom to share a meal and look forward to a wonderful holiday season.

Life is good!

Web profile is online!

2008-11-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

Our Web profile has been posted on the Bethany site! Check it out by clicking here.

The Web profile is one way that birth parents can learn a little about prospective adoptive parents. Usually it's the first impression of us that they will have. After this, they may request to see our photo book, which Cathy is currently finishing up. This will give them a much better idea about who we are and the family and friends in our lives.

We'll post some photos for everyone to see soon! In the meantime, we're one step closer to starting our family!

Peace and love

"A" Day

2008-10-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

After much planning, documentation, interviews and long talks about the kind of family we hope to have, "A" Day (Approval Day) has finally arrived!

Looking back at the process, our Adoption Agency - and specifically our case worker, Jennifer - has been a true blessing. We have been fortunate to work with her during this process.

We are also very humbled and grateful for the support our friends and family have shown through this process by keeping us in their thoughts and prayers, checking in with us to see how things are going, and serving as amazing references for us. Some may say that it take a village to raise a child, but in our case, it takes a community to start a family!

So what happens next? We need to send some photographs for our adoption profile and also complete our photo book, which is intended to help the birth mother get good idea about what kind of people we are and what our families are like.

It's just a matter of time now! Stay tuned...

Welcome to our Blog!

2008-10-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Cathy and I would like to welcome you to our Blog!

It's here that we intend to share our lives and experiences about the expansion of our family through adoption.

We may also include other thoughts and seek your feedback and advice.

Thank you for sharing in this adventure with us!

James & Cathy